The Civil War and Its Aftermath

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Slavery
Election of Abraham Lincoln
Onset of war
War aftermath
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The American civil war took place from the year 1861 to 1865. It was triggered by anxiety between the north and south that had lasted for quite a long time. In 1860 after the election of Abraham Lincoln, tensions focused on the rights of states and slavery problems. Months later the confederate states of America were established as a result of the conglomeration of eleven southern states. Southern troops emerged triumphant at the initiation of the war.

However, this changed after they were felled in Gettysburg and Vicksburg in 1863 by the north. This is because the northern troops emerged victorious as they conquered the south leading to their surrender in the year 1865. In as much as the causal aspects of the American civil war are numerous, the most distinct is the rivalry between anti-federalists who posited that each state should formulate its own laws; however, the federalists were of a different opinion consequently demonizing slavery.

Slavery

According to Fellman, Gordon & Sutherland (2003), the north was mainly an industrial hub with manufacturing and processing industries, while the north mainly concentrated on agriculture especially cash crops like tobacco and cotton. As a result, the south depended on the industrial north for success of the economy and trade prosperity.

Most importantly, the south had a large number of slaves who worked in the cash crop plantations. Legislators in the US government avoided the issue of slavery and tried to uphold peace between the north and south. However, antislavery views in the north became pervasive and resulted to verbal incongruities because slavery had begun expanding in that region (Fellman, Gordon & Sutherland, 2003).

In 1820, the Missouri compromise settled this issue by setting up the boundary dictating which regions slavery was tolerable and where it was not. As evident, the conflict was provisionally stopped by this declaration, however, when the US started stretching towards the west the differences emerged again.

This led to the establishment of new precincts in 1850 where California was affirmed an independent state. In addition, the land retrieved from the Mexican war formed the New Mexico and Utah territories. Local authorities in the two territories were permitted to decide between Free states or slavery an act that generated more conflict (Nolen, 2005).

Election of Abraham Lincoln

The south believed they were losing clutch in congress leadership. On the other hand, the north demanded funding to advance their economy. 1n 1854, Nebraska and Kansas were established as new states with Douglas Stephen backing a bill to give them conventional independence. This made the disparity worse especially with the northerners leading to the founding of the Republican Party that opposed slavery (Rhodes, 2009).

The northerners were further provoked when President Buchanan prearranged for Kansas to be declared a slavery state. Furthermore, Congress was stripped of the powers to proscribe slavery in the 1857 by the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case thus exasperating the north. John brown, an antislavery activist, led an incursion at Harper’s ferry in 1859 leading to uncertainty amongst southern leaders.

The great divisions among the leaders led to the election of Abraham Lincoln as president on a Republican Party ticket. President Abraham Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery; thus, by the time he was being inaugurated seven states had gone along to form the confederate states of America under the leadership of Davis Jefferson. These states include South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia Texas and Alabama (Grabowski, 2001).

Onset of war

Gallagher, Douglas & Krick (2003) highlights that, President Lincoln maintained that the confederate states of America were illegal and that he would continue governing the southern states. Hence, in 1861 the war began when the government tried to re-supply fort Sumter in South Carolina when the south starting firing on the government troops.

Although the north had the resources that would make them win the war, they did not do so as quick as they had expected. The south obtained the services of experienced military personnel like Lee Robert while the north found it hard to do the same; however, they managed to get the services of Sherman and Grant who were generals in the military.

The north preferred to assault broadly by terminating supply to the north, while the north preferred to fight in well-known regions until the north surrenders. While the north believed invading Richmond in Virginia, the capital of the confederate states of America, would bring the war to an end (Gallagher, et al. 2003).

Their expertise either worked or failed as the war went both ways. It was evident that no effort was made to stop the war despite the deaths and destructions. Border States of Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri and Delaware were brought under the leadership of the north in 1861, but they still believed in secessionism.

In the same year, the confederate troops invaded Kentucky while West Virginia was formed from Virginia by the northern troops. Lee conquered Maryland in 1862. In the same year, the south revealed their weapon called the ‘Merrimack’, in response the north revealed their own called the ‘iron clad’, similarly, both were armored ships.

The president released the proclamation of emancipation that made the slaves free in states that practiced it. However, the turning point of the war was in 1^st July 1863 at the battle of Gettysburg when the southern backed away into northern California. Everything eventually turned in favor of the north by 1863; however, the carnage was not yet over. In the same year, the president issued an amnesty and reconstruction proclamation.

It was stated that any person from the south who swore loyalty to the constitution and promised to adhere to the law on slavery was given amnesty. This situation did not go down well with republicans as they sort protection from the freed slaves. In addition, they also demanded massive reconstruction to be undertaken. In 1864, the northern troops attempted to break down the capital of the confederate states, while at the same time Atlanta lost its supply, making the southern troops leave.

Grant and Sheridan who were the northern army generals joined forces in 1865 and confronted Lee in what was perceived as the ultimate battle. However, this did not happen as Lee, the general of the southern troops surrendered to general grant of the northern troops (Keegan, 2009).

War aftermath

Olsen (2007) insists that, after the war, a naval impasse was instigated to prevent supplies from reaching the south. President Lincoln committed himself to the preservation of the union. President Lincoln was murdered outside the ford’s theatre on April 14^th 1865 just days after Lee’s capitulation.

In December 1865, slavery in the whole country was eliminated through the 13^th amendment. This war caused a lot of harm to the people of America, especially the south where most of the distraction took place. Additionally, the cities were ruined as people and livestock died, with the cash crops plantations getting damaged.

At that time, America had a population of only 35 million people thus; the loss of lives was a tremendous blow to the country. Moreover, states employed other constructive and peaceful ways of communicating their gripes. This made the union give them platform to contribute on issues affecting the country. Capital and production cost were accelerated by the war effects both in the north and south.

Katcher & Hook (2003) reveals that, the industrial facilities were then released to civilians for economic development and benefit to the public. The slaves were also released, although it took long for people’s mind-sets to change because most of them had the conservative culture which was hard to let go. In addition, a lot of changes were made in issues relating to individual rights of citizens (Katcher & Hook 2003).

Conclusion

The civil war in the US resulted in bereavement and annihilation of property. It is noted that the main issue that led to the war was the independence of the states and slavery. Most federalists were for the view that the federal government should enact the laws in each state while the anti federalists were for a divergent view. More over, slavery in the south was unbridled; this practice was objected by the north who advocated for a free country. The conflicts of interests led to the onset of the civil war in this country.

References

Fellman, M. Gordon, L. Sutherland, D. (2003). This Terrible War: The Civil War and Its Aftermath (2nd Edition). London: Longman Publishers.

Gallagher, G. Douglas, S. & Krick, R (2003). The American Civil War: this mighty scourge of war. Wisconsin, WI: Osprey Publishing.

Grabowski, J. (2001). Abraham Lincoln: Civil War president. New York. NY: InfoBase Publishing.

Katcher, P. & Hook, R. (2003). American Civil War commanders: Confederate leaders in the west. Osprey Publishing.

Keegan, J. (2009). The American Civil War: a military history. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Nolen, C. (2005). African American Southerners in Slavery, Civil War and Reconstruction. North Carolina, NC: McFarland.

Olsen, C. (2007). The American Civil War: A Hands-on History. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Rhodes, J. (2009). History of the Civil War 1861-1865. New York, NY: Cosimo, Inc.

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